novelaction Chapter 1320 Save him
Chapter 1320 Save him
She carefully recalled every detail of the assassination attempt: the assassin's martial arts style, the exotic spices on his body, and the jade pendant that appeared on the assassin's body—it all seemed like a meticulously designed trap.
"Your Majesty, are you alright?" The palace maid Bichun asked cautiously as she entered carrying a calming soup.
Pang Qiang raised her head, a resolute glint in her eyes: "I believe Ye Li has been wronged, and I must save him!"
Bichun asked, puzzled, "How are you going to save him?"
Pang Qiang uttered a single sentence: "Start the investigation with the jade pendant!"
Upon hearing about Pang Qiang's assassination attempt, Lin Yiwan and the Holy Maiden were also very worried.
They didn't believe Ye Li would send someone to assassinate him, after all, he was a kind and innocent boy.
The two also sent people to investigate the matter, but there were no results for the time being.
Meanwhile, in the dark prison of the palace, Zhan Xuan personally came with a medicine box to treat Ye Li's wounds.
He was somewhat sulking; he didn't want him to touch him.
He spoke coldly, "No need for Your Majesty's trouble, I am guilty!"
Zhan Xuan pretended not to hear, his gaze falling on the bleeding wound, his brows furrowing involuntarily.
He placed the medicine box on the ground, squatted down, opened the box, took out gauze, wound medicine, and strong liquor, and said in a deep voice, "Take off your clothes, I'll change your dressing."
Ye Li stiffened, then turned his head, his tone clearly defiant: "Is Your Majesty deaf? Didn't you hear what I just said? I'll repeat it again, no need for you to bother!"
"Ye Li!" Zhan Xuan's voice deepened, carrying a hint of barely perceptible anger: "Are you still throwing a tantrum?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not." Ye Li still did not look at him: "It is only because I am now a prisoner and no longer a close friend of Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please return, lest you defile Your Majesty's body."
Zhan Xuan was both angry and anxious when he saw him like this.
He knew Ye Li had been wronged, but the evidence was conclusive at the time. If he didn't throw Ye Li into prison, he would find it difficult to convince the public.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and softened his tone, saying, "I know you feel wronged, but given the circumstances, I had no choice but to do it that way."
Ye Li finally raised his head, his eyes full of mockery. "Your Majesty thinks I've been wronged? Then why doesn't Your Majesty believe me? A lost jade pendant is enough to convict me? Is our friendship of so many years so fragile?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was filled with deep disappointment and heartache, like a dull knife gently cutting into Zhan Xuan's heart.
Zhan Xuan was speechless.
He never doubted Ye Li; he simply wanted to protect him from the turmoil when the officials were criticizing him.
But he never imagined that this would make Ye Li so sad.
“I haven’t convicted you, I’m just detaining you temporarily while the truth is found out…” he explained instinctively.
Ye Li interrupted him, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes, "Does Your Majesty think the truth can still be found out? All the evidence points to me now. Even if the truth is found out, those court officials will only think that Your Majesty fabricated a lie to protect me!"
He turned around abruptly, his back to Zhan Xuan, his voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty need not come to see me with feigned concern any longer. This humble subject only wishes to have some peace and quiet in this prison for a while."
Zhan Xuan watched his stubborn back, a pang of sorrow gripping his heart. He knew that Ye Li was truly heartbroken this time.
He stood up, walked to Ye Li's side, and reached out to pat his shoulder, but Ye Li dodged him abruptly.
"Your Majesty, please have some self-respect!" Ye Li's voice carried a hint of warning.
Zhan Xuan's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of desolation flashing in his eyes.
He silently withdrew his hand, squatted down again, opened the medicine box, picked up the strong liquor and gauze, and said in a deep voice, "Even if you don't appreciate it, I still have to change your medicine. If you die in prison, who will help me assist the Li Kingdom? Who will help me protect Pang Qiang?"
Mentioning Pang Qiang, Ye Li's body trembled slightly. He recalled their wedding day, when Pang Qiang stood there with a complex expression, not uttering a single word in his defense. His resentment and anger intensified.
"Your Majesty the Empress is blessed with good fortune; there is no need for this humble subject to worry," he said coldly.
Zhan Xuan knew he was still angry that Pang Qiang hadn't defended him, and sighed helplessly: "Do you think Qiang'er didn't want to defend you? If she did, she would only make herself a suspect. Then, who would help you find out the truth?"
Ye Li froze, then turned around abruptly, a hint of confusion in his eyes: "What did you say?"
"After A-Qiang returned to the palace, she immediately dismissed everyone and began investigating the matter." Zhan Xuan looked at him and said slowly, "She firmly believes that you were wronged and is starting her investigation from the matter of your lost jade pendant. Mother and grandmother are also helping to investigate; they don't believe you would do such a thing."
Ye Li's heart skipped a beat. He had always thought that everyone suspected him, including Pang Qiang. He never imagined they had been secretly helping him all along. The iceberg in his heart seemed to soften slightly.
Seeing the change in his expression, Zhan Xuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up the strong liquor and said, "The wound can't be delayed any longer, or it will become infected. I know you're still angry, but changing the dressing is the priority."
Ye Li remained silent for a moment, then slowly took off his shirt. The wound on his shoulder blade was exposed to the air in a gruesome manner, with blood still seeping out, a shocking sight.
Zhan Xuan's eyes darkened. He picked up a gauze soaked in strong liquor and carefully wiped the blood around the wound. The liquor irritated the wound, and Ye Li couldn't help but gasp, his body trembling slightly, but he forced himself not to make a sound.
"Bear with it." Zhan Xuan's voice softened considerably. "It'll be over soon."
He moved gently and quickly, wiping the wound clean, then applying wound medicine, and finally carefully bandaging it with clean gauze.
After everything was settled, Zhan Xuan stood up and packed his medical kit: "I've already had someone prepare clean clothes and food for you, which will be delivered later. Just stay in the cell and I will find out the truth as soon as possible and clear your name."
Ye Li didn't speak, but silently put on his clothes, leaned against the wall again, and lowered his eyes.
Zhan Xuan looked at him, wanting to say something, but in the end it turned into a sigh.
He turned and walked out of the cell, stopping outside the cell door. He glanced back at Ye Li's retreating figure and said in a deep voice, "Ye Li, remember, no matter what happens, I will believe in you."
The footsteps faded into the distance, and silence returned to the cell. Ye Li slowly raised his head, looking towards the direction outside the cell door, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He knew Zhan Xuan was telling the truth. But the grievances and resentments in his heart couldn't be erased in a short time.
Just then, the prison door opened again, and a guard came in carrying a food box, saying respectfully, "Lord Ye, this is clothing and food that His Majesty sent me to deliver."